Method of sensing particulate from smoke evacuated from a patient, adjusting the pump speed based on the sensed information, and communicating the functional parameters of the system to the hub

Abstract

Surgical systems are disclosed. Surgical systems can include evacuation systems for evacuating smoke, fluid, and/or particulates from a surgical site. A surgical evacuation system can be intelligent and may include one or more sensors for detecting one or more properties of the surgical system, evacuation system, surgical procedure, surgical site, and/or patient tissue, for example.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular surgical system, comprising:
 a plurality of modules, comprising:
 a generator module comprising an energy port, wherein the generator module is configured to provide electrosurgical energy to a surgical instrument coupled to the energy port; and 
 a surgical module configured to perform a surgical function; 
 
 a sensor to sense a parameter associated with the surgical module; and 
 a backplane comprising a first electrical connector coupled to the generator module and a second electrical connector coupled to the surgical module, wherein the backplane is in operable communication with a cloud-based system, wherein the cloud-based system is configured to receive the sensed parameter associated with the surgical module via the backplane, and wherein the cloud-based system is configured to adjust an operational parameter of the generator module based on the received parameter. 
 
     
     
       2. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the generator module is configured to receive power signals via the backplane. 
     
     
       3. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modules further comprises a master module configured to control the generator module via the backplane. 
     
     
       4. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modules further comprises a second surgical module, and wherein the backplane further comprises a third electrical connector coupled to the second surgical module. 
     
     
       5. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical module is configured to receive data signals from the backplane. 
     
     
       6. The modular surgical system of  claim 3 , wherein the master module is further configured to control the surgical module via the backplane. 
     
     
       7. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical module comprises a smoke evacuator. 
     
     
       8. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modules further comprises an insufflator. 
     
     
       9. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modules further comprises a suction/irrigation module. 
     
     
       10. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the backplane is operably coupled to an external hub. 
     
     
       11. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the backplane further comprises a third electrical connector operably coupled to the display. 
     
     
       12. The modular surgical system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of modules further comprises a master module configured to control the display via the backplane. 
     
     
       13. The modular surgical system of  claim 12 , wherein the master module is configured to display data associated with the generator module on the display. 
     
     
       14. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the generator module comprises a plurality of energy ports comprising the energy port, wherein the plurality of energy ports comprises:
 a monopolar energy port, wherein the generator module is configured to provide monopolar energy through the monopolar energy port; 
 a bipolar energy port, wherein the generator module is configured to provide bipolar energy through the bipolar energy port; and 
 an ultrasonic energy port, wherein the generator module is configured to provide ultrasonic energy through the ultrasonic energy port. 
 
     
     
       15. The modular surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein the generator module is configured to produce a plurality of waveforms, comprising:
 a first waveform to cut tissue; 
 a second waveform to coagulate tissue; and 
 a blend waveform intermediate the first waveform and the second waveform. 
 
     
     
       16. A modular surgical system, comprising:
 a plurality of modules, comprising:
 a generator module comprising an energy port, wherein the generator module is configured to provide electrosurgical energy to a surgical instrument coupled to the energy port; 
 a surgical module configured to perform a surgical function; and 
 a master module; 
 
 a sensor to sense a parameter associated with the surgical module; and 
 a backplane comprising a first electrical coupler coupled to the generator module, a second electrical coupler coupled to the surgical module, and a third electrical coupler coupled to the master module; 
 wherein the backplane is in operable communication with a cloud-based system; 
 wherein the cloud-based system is configured to receive the sensed parameter associated with the surgical module via the backplane; 
 wherein the generator module is configured to receive power signals via the backplane; 
 wherein the master module is configured to control the generator module and the surgical module via the backplane; and 
 wherein the cloud-based system is configured to adjust an operational parameter of the generator module based on the received parameter. 
 
     
     
       17. The modular surgical system of  claim 16 , wherein the surgical module comprises a smoke evacuator. 
     
     
       18. The modular surgical system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of modules further comprises an insufflator. 
     
     
       19. The modular surgical system of  claim 16 , wherein the backplane is operably coupled to an external hub. 
     
     
       20. A modular surgical system, comprising:
 a modular support structure; 
 a plurality of modules, comprising:
 a generator module positionable on the modular support structure, wherein the generator module comprises an energy port, wherein the generator module is configured to provide electrosurgical energy to a surgical instrument coupled to the energy port; and 
 a surgical module positionable on the modular support structure vertically relative to the generator module, wherein the surgical module is configured to perform a surgical function; 
 
 a sensor to sense a parameter associated with the surgical module; and 
 a backplane comprising a first electrical coupler coupled to the generator module and a second electrical coupler coupled to the surgical module; 
 wherein the backplane is in operable communication with a cloud-based system; 
 wherein the cloud-based system is configured to receive the sensed parameter associated with the surgical module via the backplane; and 
 wherein the cloud-based system is configured to adjust an amount of electrosurgical energy provided to the surgical instrument based on the received parameter.